Author's note: hey, I'm back! I can't apologise enough for the long wait you guys have had but my life over the last 18 months or so has been a mess and it's only now that I've managed to get on top of it. Thank you for waiting so patiently/impatiently (delete where appropriate) for this and thanks in advance for any reviews XD
HOME
Susan stared at the blue box, absently tracing her finger around the St. John's Ambulance sticker on the front door. Nothing had changed about it. The Doctor never did get around to fixing the Chameleon Circuit. Despite herself she smiled. No doubt the instruction manual was in a black hole somewhere in deep space. Even the sign for the phone still read the same.
She felt heat begin to radiate from her coat pocket. Her key still worked. She scrambled in her pocket until her fingers clasped the burning metal. Holding it in the palm of her hand, she watched as the key glowed, almost desperate to be reunited with the TARDIS. Her hands shook so badly she could barely get the key in the lock.
She stepped into the control room and looked around. While the outside hadn't changed, the same couldn't be said of the inside. Gone were the plain white walls and control panel. The Time Rotor was no longer the small column she remembered, but much bigger, reaching the TARDIS' ceiling. The walls were orange, or maybe they were just reflecting the light, she couldn't tell, nor did she really care. The TARDIS groaned. Susan tenderly stroked the control panel, "I'm sorry old girl, I didn't mean it like that. You're wonderful any which way." This seemed to appease the TARDIS' grumblings.
Several staircases lead off from the control room. Susan took the one heading down, curious as to just how much the TARDIS had changed. Wandering the corridors of the TARDIS felt like second nature to Susan, like she had never been away. She came to the door she remembered as her bedroom aboard the TARDIS. Hesitantly, she pressed her hand against the door, pushing it open. Her breath caught in her throat. Nothing had changed; nothing at all, with the exception of clean bedding. Everything was exactly as she'd left it. She drew her hands along the familiar shelves. No dust. He'd even kept it clean all these years. Either that or the TARDIS had started self-cleaning. "Don't blame you if you have, living with him."
The Doctor sat in his cell. Twenty steps by sixteen. At least it wasn't too cramped. Did Susan still have her key? He wondered. He didn't remember taking it from her, unless she'd left it in her room. Nah, he would've noticed it by now if she had. More to the point, he thought, who was the Thousand Year Duke? Who would call themselves that? Well, clearly a Duke who had lived a thousand years and was rather proud of the fact. But still, it was a stupid name. He was curious as to how long it was going to take Susan to realise he hadn't met the Duke yet. And how long would it be before he got out of there? Susan was clever, he knew that, clever enough to tie his hands behind his back so he couldn't reach his screwdriver and sonic himself out.
Then he heard it. The faint groaning noise that meant the TARDIS was coming. It grew steadily louder; artificial wind swept his hair back. The Doctor grinned, almost bursting with pride at both the TARDIS and his granddaughter. The door creaked open and a girl with red hair stepped out.
"Doctor?"
Amy hit the dusty floor with a heavy thud. Every muscle and joint in her body protested as she tried to stand. She looked around the room. No clues as to the time or place. She looked out the window to the street below. Nothing. This place, wherever it was, was like a ghost town. "No point staying here," She said to herself, trying to steady her nerves. She ran down the stairs and into the street lined with white buildings with narrow windows. "Hello?" She called out, hoping that someone was about.
"You lost little girl?"
Amy turned and saw two grey skinned boys standing there, one with dark hair, the other blond. Had the blond been wearing more clothes, Amy might've mistaken him for a girl, but gender really wasn't the main problem here.
"Who are you?"
The dark haired boy turned to the blond, "You hear that brother, the human wants to know our names," The blond broke out into fits of giggles, a high piercing laughter that put Amy's teeth on edge, "Our names aren't important Miss Pond.
"How do you know my name?" Amy asked, backing up as the brothers came towards her.
"The Duke told us," the dark haired one answered, "he would like to see you."
A groaning echoed around the empty streets. Amy looked behind her and saw the TARDIS materialising.
Susan looked at the screen, "What do you mean?" The TARDIS beeped, "What never? Seriously? So where is she?" the screen changed, showing Susan a video of an empty street. Susan cursed. That wasn't good. She watched Amy wander around the street, heard her shout "Hello" and heard that familiar drawl and high giggle taunting Amy, "Land please."
Susan rushed to the door and watched Amy running towards the TARDIS. Amy was fast, but the twins were gaining on her, "Jasdero, Devit, she's coming with me," Amy looked at Susan confused, "just go in the TARDIS," the Time Lady muttered.
The twins looked at Susan abashed, "B-but… the wh- but He said to bring her."
Susan shrugged, "Change of plan. We need her for bait. Sorry guys." She shut the door on the twins before they could protest any further.
"Bait?"
"It saved you didn't it?"
"So you lied?"
"I'm related to The Doctor, Amy, it's a skill passed down through the family."
Amy watched the girl wander around the control panel, flicking at switches and pulling levers here and there. No one had to tell her Susan was related to The Doctor, she could see it. Just the way Susan treated the TARDIS was enough. "You know those two?"
"Who? Jasdero and Devit?" Amy nodded, "Used to, haven't seen them for a long time."
"I'm guessing they work for the Duke too?"
"Technically no," Susan said absently, pulling the screen around, "they're more like his sons."
"He has a family?"
Susan shrugged, "Of sorts."
"How many of them are there?"
Susan shrugged, "Don't know. Nor do I particularly want to. They're dangerous and I was stupid. The less you know about them, the safer you are."
"Where are we going?" Amy asked when she realised Susan was piloting the TARDIS.
"The Doctor, save him then get rid of the Daleks, then take you back home."
Amy looked at the Time Lady, furious, "I'm not going back."
"Yes you are Amy, it's the safest thing for you. Go home, find a nice guy, fall in love, I don't know maybe you've already found him, settle down, live your life, have a family. You stay with The Doctor Amy, you're gonna die before you're thirty, what kind of life is that?"
"At least I'll have had some kind of adventure."
The TARDIS landed, "And imagine the stories you could tell your kids if you leave now. You're lucky Amy, you can stop now, have your family, take your life back. Don't throw it away for the sake of The Doctor. Seven four eight two." Susan said, nodding at the doors.
Amy left the TARDIS, "Doctor?"
"Amy?" He looked at her face, "I know that look, that's an angry look. What I do this time?"
"Not angry at you, at Susan. She wants me to go home." Amy said, typing in the code Susan had told her.
"You should listen to her Amy, she's probably speaking sense. And not that I'm not grateful that you're here, but how are you here?" The Doctor asked as Amy stepped into the cell, "You were exterminated."
"No, I got teleported." Amy explained reaching into The Doctor's pocket and pulling out the Sonic Screwdriver. She opened the cuffs and the fell to the floor with a quiet clink.
"Where to?" The Doctor asked, rubbing his wrists.
"I don't know. But Susan found me and brought me back," She looked down at her hands, "I should go back home to Rory, shouldn't I?"
The Doctor held Amy's face, "If that's what you want. Your decision."
"Promise me you'll visit."
"Absolutely."
The TARDIS landed in Leadworth. Well, in Amy's back garden to be exact. Amy and The Doctor stood where they had first met. Susan was hanging around awkwardly by the TARDIS admiring the plants.
"Well I guess this is goodbye Doctor."
The Doctor smiled sadly, "Goodbye Amelia Pond," He pulled his friend into a bear hug.
"Visit soon."
"I will."
Amy untangled herself from The Doctor, "And you," She pointed at Susan who looked at the Scot, a little alarmed, "take care of him and try and stay out of trouble."
"Will do, and I'll make him come visit."
Amy gave The Doctor one last hug before ushering him into the TARDIS. She stood and watched as The Doctor and Susan left Leadworth for God only knew where.